[HLUG] ComputerActive and LINUX

[j michaelson]

nice work chris.

john michaelson.




On 2/6/06, Chris Owens <cowens at clara.co.uk> wrote:
> Hello everyone
>
>     For what it's worth this rambling letter is what I wrote to
> ComputerActive and the reply
> I got - one small step!!
>
>       "Chris Owens" <cowens at clara.co.uk>         22/01/2006 14:33
>         To:        "Computeractive" <letters at computeractive.co.uk>
>         Subject:        Re: Linux
>
> "May I respond to your call for views on Linux (Issue 207 p80).
>
>     Having subscribed to your magazine for several years, I have had a lot
> of enjoyment, information and practical help from it addressing, as it does,
> the sort of difficulties home users have with computers. It has great
> strengths notably use of clear understandable text with explanation of
> specialist jargon where necessary. As time progresses though, a defect is
> emerging that may eventually lead to me discontinuing my subscription and
> that is its seemingly sole commitment to the Microsoft monopoly made worse
> by occasional unfavourable comment towards Linux in terms of its cost,
> security and ease of use.
>
>     Certainly you may buy Linux Distributions but many if not most are also
> free and freely available (such as on the cover of Linux Format or the
> Internet). Certainly security will become an issue as more hackers turn
> their attention to Linux but there are arguments to support the notion that
> the very structure of the Linux File trees are inherently more secure than
> those used in Windows. Certainly Linux has awkward bits but so does Windows
> the difference being that Linux home use is at an early stage of
> development, for Windows there is no excuse. Further, for the home user,
> many of the Linux teething troubles are being smoothed out, it is a
> completely transparent system that offers the chance for the enthusiasts
> (with a bit of help) to get involved and address problems which is more than
> can be said for the opaque, convoluted and inherently flawed Microsoft
> systems where any probing amateur enthusiast is rewarded by system failure
> or worse the threat of litigation.
>
>     You have a great commercial opportunity here to take the home enthusiast
> into the Linux world. Not by becoming a specialist journal but in the same
> excellent way you have for Windows using your clear text and simple
> educational approaches. You would at the same time contribute towards the
> Open Source community which needs all the public exposure and momentum it
> can get as it comes under increasing pressure from the major corporations as
> they seek to exploit patent and copyright law to stifle competition. Even
> now Linux supports some applications that are arguably superior to their
> Windows counterparts so why not help your readership and a wider community
> to enjoy them.
>
>     I just don't quite understand you reticence, what could be more ethical
> and constructive than running copy on Linux parallel to your understandable
> Windows commitment, just doing what you are good at but in another
> (potential very useful) direction. You could even put an occasional free CD
> or DVD in the pack! "
>
> "Dear  Chris, We're currently planning a feature on how to create a boot
> disk to run a Linux operating system, and it will appear around March or
> April.
>
> Regards,
>
> Paul Allen
> Deputy Editor"
>
>
>
> --
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>
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